Davidson County Community College Prepares for Record Enrollment
davidson county community college, education, schools, students,
An eager and supportive group of faculty, students and community members looked on as Davidson County Community College President Dr. Mary Rittling cut the ribbon on the school’s all-new Conference and Technology Center last summer. The center opened at the beginning of the 2009-10 school year – and not a moment too soon to accommodate historic numbers at the college.
In fact, fall 2009 saw registration jump to 4,000 students, a 17 percent increase over the previous year, which was also a record-breaker.
The conference center, a new transportation technology center and additional expansions at the Davidson County Community College campus represent upgrades that will allow DCCC to better serve students and the community at large.
“All of this expansion is the result of a changing population and the needs of the community,” Rittling says. “Education has become a strong voice, and we have seen tremendous growth in the last year.”
An ideal venue for seminars, meetings and community gatherings, the 20,000-square-foot conference center features a 96-seat auditorium, a catering kitchen and versatile open spaces. Upstairs, meeting rooms and classrooms outfitted with state-of-the-art technology can accommodate up to 240 people.
“Having the capability to bring in groups adds a different dimension to the college – especially in the area of lifelong learning – that didn’t exist before we built the conference center,” Rittling notes.
The $5.5 million project, funded largely by a countywide bond, also includes construction of a new road into the campus and other infrastructure improvements, including the relocation of all of the college’s information technology into the new facility.
In addition, the new $2 million Transportation Technology Center is in the final stages of construction and is scheduled to begin classes in January 2010. It is the first college building financed exclusively with grant funding.
The 12,600-square-foot facility will house DCCC’s automotive technology program, as well as enable the school to introduce its new diesel and heavy equipment mechanics program. Regional transportation-sector employers also will be able to use the facility for continuing education and training.
Furthermore, the building positions DCCC to explore alternative vehicle technologies and prepare students for employment opportunities in that up-and-coming field, Rittling says.
She also points out an educational upside to the country’s economic downturn.
“With the economy sliding, education has become more highly valued,” she says. “We are expanding our offerings to make it possible for us to fulfill our mission, which is threefold: developing skills for the workplace; facilitating transfer to four-year institutions; and offering continuing education opportunities for lifelong learning, which is our community focus.”
Other improvements include the recent remodeling of DCCC’s student food service. The Storm Cellar, as the colorful, inviting restaurant is now known, is located on the first floor of the Brooks Student Center and serves a wide range of affordable menu selections.
An expansion of the college library is in the works, and the opening of a full-fledged campus bookstore is slated for completion in the summer of 2010. Road, driveway and parking lot upgrades are also under way.
Story by Carol Cowan
